The third annual Drink Outside the Grape Competition is now open for online entries. Now in its third year, DOTG is an international competition. In 2017 entries came from the U.S., Canada, Estonia and India. The purpose of the Drink Outside the Grape Competition is...

The second annual Best of New England Wine Competition took place on April 25th, with six judges including grape and fruit wine and cider and mead specialists, tasting dozens of entries from New England states resulting in 42 medals; two Double Gold, nine Gold, 13...

November 2-4th saw the 50th conference of the American Wine Society in Kalahari Resort of the Poconos, PA. Seminar highlights for me included: Annette Schiller’s presentations on Alsace and Burgundy, accompanied by brilliant wines, as well as Paul Wagner’s fascinating...

The “sibling beverages” to grape wines are fruit wines, mead, cider and fruit brandies, all of which are exploding in growth and popularity. I’ve felt it’s unfair for these special “locavore” fruit-based beverages to be judged...

The first “Drink Outside the Grape” competition with just under 100 entries took place in Charlottesville, VA on August 11, resulting in 76 medals for fruit wines, meads, ciders and fruit brandies. The 98 entries came from 11 U.S. states, two provinces of Canada, and...